Love chai? Here is a curated list of the finest tea menus in Mumbai

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Be it masala chai and pakodas, or Earl Grey and scones, the rains make you crave for a luxurious tea experience. With the monsoons setting the perfect mood, cafes and restaurants in the city bring out their best high-tea menus to woo fans of the brew. Pick from these or throw a themed tea party in the comfort of your home.

It's a classic
From gourmet sandwiches, assorted bruschettas, a selection of hot savoury snacks, tea cakes, and classic pastries, this space in Lower Parel, has everything you need for the perfect high tea experience. Think smoked salmon, cream cheese and dill bagel, guacamole tarts, classic caprese sandwiches, cheese rekakat, madeleines, and more. Apart from the regular black and green teas, one can find infusions and blooming teas as well. The high tea experience needs to be booked four-five days in advance.

On: All week, 11 am to 10 pm
At: Cafe By The St Regis, G 13, Ground Floor, Palladium Annexe, Lower Parel
Call: 8657522956
Cost: Rs 1,600 (approximate meal for 2)

Turkish temptations

The recently launched signature high tea experience at this Fort tea house offers interesting flavours from Türkiye. There are three set menus on offer, within the Turkish high tea experience, each one offering a delectable assortment of sweet and savoury delights, along with traditional Turkish tea. This tea is typically prepared using a special double teapot called a ‘çaydanlık.' The larger bottom pot holds boiling water, while the smaller top pot holds loose tea leaves.

The tea leaves are brewed strongly in the top pot, and then hot water from the bottom pot is mixed with the concentrated tea to achieve the desired strength. The tea is usually served in small tulip glasses. It has a hint of bitterness, is slightly sour and astringent flavour. Tea lovers can choose from a menu featuring Turkish baklava to bite-sized quiches, tarts, mousses, cakes, and piping hot Turkish tea. It is an all-vegetarian menu. This experience can be ordered à la carte.
On: All week, 3 pm to 7 pm
At: Hurrem's, Taj Building, 210, Dr DN Road, Fort
Call: 9967722147
Cost: Rs 1,800 (approximate meal for 2)

Tea as it should be

Known for their exhaustive collection of teas, this chai café cum restaurant offers two kinds of high tea experiences. Patrons can pick from the quintessential collection, which is the brand's chai range or milky teas and the orthodox tea collection, which includes non-milky teas where one can choose between rare orthodox teas.

To accompany the tea, there are a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian snacks on offer. Both menus offer six savoury and four sweet items respectively. Tuck into apple crumble chocolate cups and raspberry scones, to smoked cottage cheese canapes, tofu bhurji mini muffins, lamb bruns, smoked salmon mini sandwiches and deviled eggs. For a group of more than 12 guests, the high tea experience needs to be booked at least 24 hours in advance.

On: All week, 4 pm to 7 pm
At: Taj Mahal Tea House, Sanatan Pereira Bungalow, 36/A, St John Baptist Road, Bandra (W)
Call: 8433953420
Cost: Rs 1,095 and Rs 1,200, plus taxes respectively

Potter around

Potterheads are in for a treat. At this space's special Diagon dessert Alley menu, one can try A very Hogwarts high tea. Don't miss the delicious vanilla sponge with roasted strawberry jam and white chocolate cream.
Till: August 13, 9 am to 1.30 am AT Jamjar Diner, Bandra and Andheri outlets.
Call: Rs 425 plus taxes

The house tea party

If you are looking to set up a tea party experience at home, chef Bhakti Mehta (top right), can help you with themes and delicious platters. She started Little Food Co. in 2010, and is equipped to cater for parties of up to 500 people. "High tea allows one to set up a beautiful table layout, since the food is designed to be room temperature or cold. So, here you can use platters for appetisers and bite-sized desserts, leaving room for floral or props," Mehta tells us. Some of her specialties include Vietnamese rice rolls, beetroot gnocchi with goat cheese, salmon caper creme choux and layered hummus shooters.

Choose from themes such as a modern Indian tea party, which consists of dishes such as brie cheese mini appams, tempura betel leaf chaat, mushroom truffle naan buns, mini gulab jamun kataifi baskets paired with masala chai in kulhad cups, fresh lemongrass and ginger tea or an English tea party, which includes a typical English tea menu with tea sandwiches, vol au vents, salmon choux, cheese and fruit platters, macaroons, and cookies along with English tea, Earl Grey tea and green tea.

The English tea party can also be converted into a Mad Hatter's tea party, where the menu remains the same, but the decor showcases an Alice In Wonderland theme. Another option is a tea party with a Mediterranean theme that can include hot and cold mezze, grilled cheese sandwiches, exotic fruits, tea cakes, and tarts and paired with mixed teas such as jasmine, flavoured green teas, lemon tea, Earl Grey and coffee. Orders need to be placed a minimum of 48 hours in advance.
Call: 9892908129